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PRETTY PRIVILEGE

"WHAT DO YOU GUYS MEAN YOU DON'T PLAY MONOPOLY? ISN'T THERE AN ITALIAN VERSION SOMEWHERE?"

It had been a week, officially, since the start of her stay in Volterra, and to be honest? Billie was having the time of her life— because while the rest of the coven, the Guard especially, had duties to fulfill and tasks to complete for the kings, Billie's only duty was to relax.

In hindsight, she definitely needed to relax by the end of that first day; her energy was practically bubbling over and spilling all over the place. She needed something to do, and she needed direction now more than ever.

"So something that will calm your mind," Aro instructed her with a small smile. "We have endless books, and I can send someone to gather those crosswords that you enjoy?"

Despite his helpful suggestions, there was one thing that made Billie relax more than anything: talking.

So, by the end of her first week in Volterra, she was well acquainted with almost every single member of the coven. She had favourites, of course, meaning she liked spending most of her time with either Demetri or Jane. The two were vastly different in every way, but were coincidentally always available to chat with the blonde newborn. 

That was what led her to be sitting in one of Caius' studies with Jane, the pair of blondes accompanied by Alec this time, as they were trying to sort through a box of card games that Aro had imported for Billie. Really, she'd only wanted a few, but the box was massive— she'd never complain, though.

"We don't really have time for... human games," Jane supplied, looking rather snobbishly at the box. She had her hand halfway inside, pulling out a random board game before looking at it with disdain, "I mean, what is the correlation between ladders and snakes?"

Alec craned his head towards the board game, taking it from Jane's grasp to analyze it. "Fascinating," he admitted lowly, holding it up to his ear to shake it.

"What do you guys do instead?" she asked the pair, who only just shared an unspoken exchange. "Don't tell me you guys don't have hobbies..."

"We don't," Alec said, earning a proper smack to the arm from Jane once the blonde saw the newborn's crestfallen reaction. "And I say that with the utmost respect for you and your— uh, hobbies, of course."

Billie continued to look unimpressed, glancing down at the unopened monopoly game in her grasp.  She began peeling the plastic off of the small box, tearing it open and setting the board on the table before them. "We're playing. Now."

Jane looked the most apprehensive. "I don't think that—"

The unimpressed look Billie tossed her way had her words disappearing in her throat, staring at the unhappy curl of the blonde's lip before Alec thankfully chimed in.

"You'll have to tell us the rules first, mia signora," he responded with a tight smile, his leg jutting out to kick at his twin's shin as though to say shut up and follow my lead.

Jane easily got the hint, pleased to see the smile return to Billie's face.

"Okay... but I must warn you; I will not let you will simply because you are you, Billie."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Janey."

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It took eight hours.

Really, it took four hours for the first game of monopoly be completed, and then an additional four for the rematch game that Jane demanded to be completed.

In the end, the rematch was a lost cause because in the end, Alec was in control of all the residential properties on the board and had somehow taken all of the blonde girls' money. He had robbed them blind, resulting in no money being moved— like a damn tyrant. Both times.

Jane was not impressed, judging from the way that Alec began withering on the ground in pain for a couple seconds the minute he cheered for his second victory. Billie merely congratulated him with an earth-shattering hug that he had to tap out of, the girl severely underestimating her new strength.

"Did you love it or did you love it?" Billie asked excitedly, revelling in the way Alec looked proud of his own efforts. His facial expressions stood in direct contrast with Jane's, the girl looking outright murderous at the outcome.

"I must say, I did enjoy it immensely when I began winning," he smirked, and the cockiness in his voice made Jane's head snap in his direction once more.

Her arms crossed over her chest. "I challenge you to another, stronzo!" she yelled, and Billie almost choked on her laughter at her outraged, raised tone.

Alec rolled his eyes, a retort ready on his tongue when the doors to the study opened with a creak.

The three vampires looked up to the intruder like they'd just been caught doing something they shouldn't have been doing, and the twins scrambled to stand and bow before the bearded man who entered.

Billie continued to sit there, a happy smile on her face as she waved haphazardly to the new person in the room. "Hi, Aro."

"Good morning, bellissima," he responded to her gently, his hands clasped together behind his back before he turned his hardened gaze upon the twins. "Shouldn't you two be sparring with the others?"

Billie noted the way Alec's eyes widened, and quickly stood alongside them. "It's my fault," she hurried out, putting her hands up in defence, "I made them keep me company... I'm sorry if I kept them from something important."

For extra effect, she lowered her gaze to the floor and placed a convincing pout upon her lips. Jane looked at her like she'd just sprouted a second head, but stayed silent regardless when Aro hummed. Judging by the way his eyes lingered on the wooden table behind them, she was guessing he saw just what they were up to.

"Have you finished your game?"

"Yeah," was her response.

"And did you have fun?"

"Totally. Jane's a sore loser but—" Said vampire cut her off by clearing her throat pointedly, though it was paired with an amused eye roll.

Aro mulled what she was saying over, the smile from before rising back onto his face. "Then I don't see the problem with a little tardiness," he said, only for his gaze to flicker to Jane's, specifically, "so long as it is not a regular occurrence, correct?"

"Of course, master," she said immediately, bowing her head before the man. She tugged on Alec's wrist, "we'll be going now."

The twins all but sped from the room, which left Billie on clean-up duty. She turned her back to the man, putting the board game back into its respective box before putting it into the bigger box of things he'd gotten from her.

"What other games do you enjoy, piccola?" he asked absentmindedly, eyes raking around the study— the study that Caius definitely didn't know they'd been using to play games.

Billie shrugged, more to herself than to Aro. "I like UNO best, but they couldn't get the rules down so I figured I wouldn't push it," she laughed, turning to face him once the mess was tidied up.

His eyes were already focused on her.

"They might not be able to comprehend the rules, but I think I could if you told me," he stated with his shoulders relaxing, as though he was slipping out of his leader-like stature in her presence.

Her eyebrow quirked up. "Aren't you too busy?" She didn't want to point out the obvious— wasn't something like UNO a little too human for you?

"I'm never too busy for you, Billie."

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[ wyn's note ]

billie has major pretty privilege... shes truly #thatgirl. but this was a little glimpse into billie's influence on the volturi, and it's truly just the beginning! ;)

thanks for 30k y'all— i really appreciate it and am hoping you guys are loving this fic so far!!